FACTSHEET
Exotic Pest Alert: Golden apple
snail
Plant Biosecurity Orange
Golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) is an
exotic plant pest
This snail is a serious threat to Australia’s rice
industry and also to the ecology of natural
wetlands
If found it must be reported promptly to the
Exotic Plant Pest Hotline 1800 084 881
Introduction
Golden apple snails live in wetlands, irrigation
canals, rivers and rice fields.
Golden apple snail and its relatives are prohibited
imports into the NSW Rice Pest & Disease
Exclusion Zone.
Behaviour
Golden apple snail has both gills and an air
breathing organ. Ability to breathe in air allows the
snail to survive between irrigation cycles.
Figure 1 Adult golden apple snail showing the flat
operculum used to seal the shell.
Scale bar: 1cm.
Snails dig deep into the soil as conditions dry out
and resurface after rice bays are flooded.
Adult golden apple snails cut off rice seedlings just
above ground level and eat the stems and leaves.
Description
Mature golden apple snails are 3 to 8 cm diameter.
They have a distinct flat lid called an operculum
which is used to close the mouth of the shell. The
operculum is carried on the back of the body
behind the shell and is pulled inwards to seal the
shell when the snail withdraws inside (Figure 1).
Shell colour and banding of golden apple snails is
extremely variable and not diagnostic. Colours are
commonly golden, yellow or brown (Figure 2).
July 2012, http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/factsheets for updates
Primefact 1212 first edition
Figure 2 Range of shell colours and banding variations
within a single population of golden apple snail.
Scale bar: 1 cm.
Plant Biosecurity
Spread
Golden apple snail can spread rapidly in
association with running water such as in irrigation
and drainage channels.
Trade and human assisted movement accounts for
international spread.
Actions to minimise risks
Put in place biosecurity best practice actions to
prevent entry, establishment and spread of pests
and diseases:
•
practice “Come clean, Go clean”
•
ensure all staff and visitors are instructed in
and adhere to your farm hygiene requirements
•
source clean seed from the SunRice pure seed
scheme
•
monitor your crop regularly for both adult snails
and egg masses
•
keep records
Reporting
Figure 3 Golden apple snail egg mass
Lifecycle
Mating occurs where water is readily available.
Mating is not restricted by time of day or season of
the year. Female snails emerge from the water and
lay their egg masses on vegetation or other
structures above the water line.
Egg masses are bright pink and contain 200-300
eggs (Figure 3). Egg masses lighten in colour
when about to hatch.
After hatching juvenile snails fall or crawl into the
water. The wide host range of the golden apple
snail allows multiple generations to develop and
mature when free water is available.
Host range
Golden apple snail feeds on a wide variety of
grasses and wetland plants.
If you suspect golden apple snail:
Call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on
1800 084 881
Take photos not samples to minimise the risk
of spreading this pest
Contact your local agronomist or rice specialist
Visit the Plant Biosecurity website
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/plant
An exotic plant pest is a disease causing organism
or an invertebrate not present in Australia and which
threatens agricultural production, forestry or native
and amenity plants.
Resources
Plant Health Australia (2009) Pest Risk Review –
Golden apple snail
Plant Health Australia factsheet – Golden apple snail
Distribution
Golden apple snail is native to South America.
Golden apple snail was introduced into Asia for
aquaculture and the aquarium trade.
Natural or deliberate release into the environment
has enabled the snail to establish and spread
throughout eastern Asia.
p 2 Exotic Pest Alert: Golden apple snail
Website www.applesnail.net
Figures 1 and 2 courtesy of Robert Cowie, University
of Hawaii
Figure 3 courtesy of Mark Stevens, New South Wales
Department of Primary Industries
© State of New South Wales through the Department of Trade
and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services (NSW
Trade & Investment) 2012. You may copy, distribute and
otherwise freely deal with this publication for any purpose,
provided that you attribute the Department of Trade and
Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services as the owner.
ISSN 1832-6668
Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is
based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing
(July 2012). However, because of advances in knowledge,
users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon
which they rely is up to date and to check currency of the
information with the appropriate officer of the Department of
Primary Industries or the user’s independent adviser.
Published by the Department of Primary Industries, a part of the
Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure
and Services.
PUB12/90
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